An update on 2026....
Wow, I can't believe we are in the last quarter of 2026 and the slide towards Christmas! It's been a while since my last blog and it's way past time I put a few words to my blog! So what has been happening? In my world and yours - apart from all the negative news that we get bombarded with every day about the state of the world. That is why time in my studio and in nature help balance my view of the world.
The last few weekends have been busy with teaching a two day class at Whangamata and then tripping off to Symposium for a couple of days. Both great to do, for different reasons.
For those who are looking to step outside their comfort zone and start creating their own designs for a quilt then the Mandala Art Quilt is a great workshop, but it isn't limited to beginners. A Mandala Art Quilt can be as simple or as complex as you feel comfortable designing. For those new to designing it gives a structure to work with and for those who want to take their designing further it gives a structure to step out from. I am still drawn to the mandala structure but I am taking it outside the square - literally.
Circular Connections is my latest 'mandala' structured art quilt. Not only have I taken it out of the square but I have also cut out sections of the quilt and placed red fabric behind. Initially the idea was to leave the cut out sections just stitched but when I placed it on the blue ironing board I loved the blue behind. My husband encouraged me to try other colours behind and eventually settled on the red as it connects to the Autumn trees.
Which brings me to the recent NZ Quilt Symposium in Christchurch and my delight in receiving a Merit Award for Circular Connections in the Pictorial Section. I spent a few days at Symposium, checking out the exhibitions, catching up with and taking to people, and perusing the Merchants Halls.
Sue Spigel's exhibition at Symposium was a highlight, which included artworks from a collaboration with Galina Kim, a painter. A collaboration of quilts and paintings titled Merging Traditions was originally exhibited at the Christchurch Cathedral - absolutely stunning work!
The exhibition of works by Spigel and Kim were purchased by a collector who believed they needed to remain together as a set, a collector with great insight. Individually powerful but as a set of eight works they tell a bigger story.
Another highlight in Christchurch was doing a guided tour of the Christchurch Art Gallery and the exhibition that stood out for me was Bird Land: Te Kahui Manu, especially the work of Don Binney. The simplicity of his work where the subject feels reduced to line, shape, colour and has a graphic quality that resonates so deeply with me.
After one weekend at home I will then be teaching a Landscape Art Quilt workshop In Auckland. I love teaching and meeting so many lovely participants with interesting creative journeys and stories. However the biggest news - for me anyway - is that I have resigned from my 4 days a week work and will be spending the last term of this year focusing on getting ready for the Bay Of Plenty Garden and Art Festival, 19-22 November 2026. And developing new work and workshops.....
Next year I will also be available for teaching/tutoring workshops - if you are interested in participating in a workshop let me know in the comments or send me an email: loisparishevans@gmail.com.
